Tanya Severight’s skills passed on from generation-to-generation COMMUNITY

Written By : Jordan LaPlante

This is an interview Indigenous Times (IT) conducted with Tanya Severight from the Keeseekoose First Nation. She tells us her answers “come from the heart.”

IT: Who influenced you first? Was it a particular artist?

My Grandmother, Emelia “Chip” Keshane (nee Gardipy) influenced me. She did everything from baking, cooking, sewing, crocheting and knitting. She was even my art teacher. She would make clothing for me when I was little. She made starblankets, horse blankets, crocheted blankets, and even patch quilts. My mother, Claudette Keshane, is just as creative and does everything my grandma did with perfection. She’s a bit too busy these days so I rely on my mentor, Eunice Ketchemonia-Cote. She is my mother’s best friend and is family to me. She sets that bar high for skirt designs as well as starblankets. She is known far and wide for her impeccable work. Any time I have questions or need help, I can always count on her.

IT: Tell us about some of the work you have done with designing ribbon skirts.

I usually have an idea that comes to mind and need to make it. Otherwise, I can’t focus until my vision is complete. Some are basic skirts but still quite beautiful. I do take on orders but prefer to have the freedom to create, otherwise it causes me to stress out and have a major creative block. I have made a few skirts for Vice Chief Aly Bear. I think she is my best customer! I am grateful for her loving my designs. She recently took some of my skirt designs to New Zealand, which is amazing when two indigenous cultures can make some trades or even just to gift. I know there are very many amazing skirt designers out there. I try not to compare myself to others and when people ask, I tell them: “I am good at what I do and I try not to copy other artists.”

IT: Explain how your Indigenous background influences you when you create a skirt.

I find it is healing for me. I never knew I was an “Indian” until I was about 15.

Yet I grew up on and off the reserve. It never dawned on me until I got my grade 9 schedule. I didn’t know how to pronounce Saulteaux, I had to ask the kids in my class. My Grandparents both attended residential school so I know that had a big impact on why I wasn’t aware of us being First Nation, even though we lived on the reserve, Keeseekoose. I try to tie in our cultural designs with more modern designs.

IT: What’s it like to design some of your original ribbon skirts(colours)? I try match or think what would look best with the fabric. I only started doing more intricate applique, so I’m still learning and improving. When I take on orders, I ask what they would like and put my own spin on it.

Written By : Jordan LaPlante

NORTH BATTLEFORD, SK – Living Sky School Division (LSKYSD) has launched a groundbreaking Cree language and culture program called kihci (KEY cheh) for kindergarten students at McKitrick Community School. The program, which debuted at the beginning of the 2022-23 school year, is designed to support Indigenous students’ sense of belonging, cultural connection, and representation, while also ensuring equitable educational opportunities.

Kimberly Night, an Indigenous advocate with LSKYSD, emphasizes that for cultural integration to be successful, schools must incorporate immersive language programming that embraces the four domains of a child’s development as described in Medicine Wheel Teachings. “Spiritual, emotional, physical, and mental growth all need balanced focus to truly represent Indigenous Ways of Knowing,” she said. “All are required for wholistic learning.”

Situated in Treaty Six Territory, LSKYSD serves many First Nations communities and has